News Media Contact(s): USDA: Jim Brownlee, (202) 720-4623 DOE: Julie Ruggiero, (202) 586-4940 |
For Immediate Release March 4, 2008 |
USDA, DOE to Invest up to $18.4 million for Biomass Research, Development and Demonstration Projects | |
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ed Schafer and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel Bodman today announced that combined, USDA and DOE will invest up to $18.4 million, over three years, for 21 biomass research and development (R&D), and demonstration projects. These projects specifically aim to address critical barriers to making production of biomass more efficient and cost-effective, in an effort to advance the Bush Administration’s strategy of bringing online more clean, bio-based products and biofuels to help reduce our dependence on oil from unstable parts of the world and mitigate climate change. Secretaries Schafer and Bodman made today’s announcement while delivering remarks at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC). “These grants help fund the innovative research needed to develop technologies and systems that lead to the production of bio-based products and biofuels,” Schafer said. “Funding new technologies will help make biofuels competitive with fossil fuels in the commercial market, putting America on the path of reducing its dependence on foreign oil.” “Continued investments in biomass are critical to furthering the President’s goal of making available clean, abundant and domestically produced biofuels for widespread use,” Secretary Bodman said. “Increasing supplies of renewable energy and using more energy efficient technologies must continue to play an indispensable role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting the rapidly growing demand for energy.” Projects announced today are integral to furthering President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, which aims to change the way this nation powers its cars, homes and business by increasing energy efficiency and diversifying energy sources in effort to increase energy, economic and national security. Funding for these projects will be provided through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, a joint USDA-DOE effort established in 2000 to develop the next generation of clean, bio-based technologies. Grant recipients are required to raise a minimum of 20 percent matching funds for R&D projects, and 50 percent matching funds for demonstration projects. Of the $18,449,089 announced today, USDA will provide up to $13,225,554, and DOE will provide up to $5,223,535 (Fiscal Years 2007-2009). Grants are subject to negotiation and will begin immediately, and funding is subject to appropriations from Congress. WIREC 2008, held in Washington this week, aims to garner broad, high-level international support for developing and deploying clean, renewable energy technologies as a key mechanism for increasing energy security, mitigating climate change, improving air quality and promoting sustainable development. In addition to raising political support for, and public awareness of the importance of renewable energy, WIREC also includes broad market opportunities for agricultural producers in the rural sector worldwide. WIREC 2008 is the third global ministerial-level conference on renewable energy, following events in Beijing in 2005 and Bonn in 2004. Learn more information about WIREC 2008. The following entities have been selected as grant recipients: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: Agrivida, Inc. (MA) - up to $982,589 University of Florida (FL) - up to $866,576 Ceres, Inc. (CA) - up to $839,909 Ceres, Inc. (CA) - up to $883,290 Regents of the University of Colorado (CO) - up to $1,000,000 North Carolina State University (NC) - up to $999,889 Regents of the University of Minnesota (MN) - up to $975,676 Regents of the University of Minnesota (MN) - up to $715,340 Regents of the University of Minnesota (MN) - up to $576,368 University of Kentucky Research Foundation (KY) - up to $999,964 Battelle Memorial Institute, on behalf of DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (WA) - up to $1,000,000 Packer Engineering (IL) - up to $1,000,000 Kansas State University (KS) - up to $690,000 The University of Akron (OH) - up to $743,904 Purdue University (IN) - up to $1,000,000 Iowa State University (IA) - up to $944,899 Cornell University (NY) - up to $998,943 GE Global Research (NY) - up to $820,035 DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS: Washington State University (WA) - up to $839,909 Read more about President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative. |
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U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. |